Ramesh vows to free state from diseases

Jairam Ramesh and Dr Bharati Kashyap at the eye check-up camp in Daltonganj on Sunday. Picture by Saikat Chatterjee

Ranchi, Jan. 12: Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today promised to organise free eye check-up camps in every district, while seeking the state government’s help in implementing centrally sponsored schemes to turn Jharkhand into a “healthy state”.

Addressing the inaugural session of a free eye check-up camp in Daltonganj of Palamau, Ramesh added all health issues would be cured in the state within the next ten years if projects like, Saranda action plan and Saryu action plan, were executed properly.

“Health is our primary concern. Also, we want every child to go to school. Without healthy children and educated youths, a progressive society will remain a distant dream,” he said.

Speaking about other government initiative, the Union minister said four new medical colleges would be set up in different parts of the state, while the number of seats in the existing medical colleges would be increased.

Also, he promised to participate in the foundation laying ceremony of a medical college and hospital in Daltonganj on January 31.

“Earlier, people used to have cataract disease at the age of 50-60. Now, it is common even among children. We have to fight it out,” he added.

Energy secretary Vimal Kriti Singh, while speaking on the occasion, said over 12,500 vacancies had come up in the power sector following the Jharkhand State Electricity Board’s (JSEB) unbundling recently. These vacancies would be filled up in the coming days.

The Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, in association with the Palamau administration and State Bank of India, had screened over 3.5 lakh children studying in government schools in remote areas of the district.

Most of them belonged to the BPL category.

About 1,700 among them were diagnosed with cataract and other eye diseases. They were given proper treatments at the special camp organised on Girivar School premises today. The SBI is extending its help to KMEB in this mission. The bank has promised to offer spectacles to children who will undergo surgeries at Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital.

Among others Bharati Kashyap and Daltonganj MLA K.N. Tripathi were also present.